Unit 3: Resource Canada 6-Agriculture7-Water8-Fishing9-Forestry10-Mining11-Energy

Chapter 6: Agriculture  Key Terms: –net exporter –hectare (ha) –growing season –degree days –genetic engineering –insecticides, herbicides –inputs/outputs –intensive/extensive farms –market/truck farming

Introduction  Next to air, correct temperature and water, food is most essential to our survival  Until the 1900s, most Canadians worked on farms. Over the 1900s, it changed to less than 3%.  In spite of this, Canada is a net exporter of food; we export more food than we import.

Canada's Farmland Resource (p.82)  Hectare (ha): a measurement of land area. One ha measures 10m by 10m, or 100m2  There is an average of 1.7ha of farmland per person in Canada, a high number. Only Australia has more.  Use this data to answer question #1, p.82

Farmland Location: the role of soils and climate (p.84)  Soil and climate determine the location of good farmland  Soil: –There are 2 main types of agricultural soils: 1.Grassland : good natural fertility 2.Forest : lower natural fertility than grassland. Mixed and deciduous forest soils have greater fertility than coniferous forest soils  Answer #4, p.84, using figure 6.4 and a precipitation map of Canada

Climate Factors:  Precipitation –Most crops in Canada require at least 400mm of annual precipitation, which limits farming areas unless irrigation is possible

Climate Factors:  Degree days: another useful calculation of the growing season. –They are found by calling every degree above 5.6C in a day a degree day, and adding them up for a year. –A map of degree days for Canada appears on p.86. Use it to answer questions #7-9, p

Quality Farmland (p.87)  The Canada Land Inventory for Agriculture (CLI) rates farmland from class 1 (highest quality) to 6 (lowest quality)  Look at Figure 6.2, p.83 to answer these questions: –Why do NL, NT & YT have such low numbers overall? –Why does PEI have such a high number in column A but a low number in column B?

Homework  Question #3a, p.83. Track your diet for 1 day (today!). We'll analyze it next class.

Agriculture: Past to Present  The Past –100 years ago, nearly 75% of Canadians lived in rural areas, and more people worked in farming than in anything else –Work was done by human muscle with some animal (horse, oxen) assistance. Farms were about 40ha in size –Farms had a variety of crops and animals. Only what was not used by the family was sold for profit

Agriculture: Past to Present  The Present –Today, most Canadians live in urban areas and less than 3% work in agriculture –Farms are specialized, mechanized and computerized and are about 240ha in size. –Farmers need technical skills to be successful, so many are college-educated and rely on outside research for help.

Genetic Engineering:  Manipulating DNA in plants and farm animals to produce better growing characteristics and taste  This is controversial because no one knows what effects it will have on us years from now

Herbicides & Insecticides  Herbicides (weed-killers)  Insecticides (insect-killers) and artificial fertilizers have increased the crop yield, but many contain known carcinogens  The result? Farmers today produce far more per hectare with less effort

Questions:  #14, p.89. Use either graph paper or MS Excel. Use the graph to answer these questions: 1.Why was there a large increase in farm size from: a b c ? 2. Why has the amount of farm labour gone down? 3. Why has the number of farms gone down while total farmland went up?

Farmers as Business Managers  A farm is run like many other businesses and farmers require business skills to be successful  They must know about cash flow, loans/mortgages, grants, interest rates and more  In spite of the large land holdings and expensive equipment involved, many farmers make less than the average city dweller

Farming Inputs and Outputs  Input: the costs of running a farm  Output: the earnings from a farm  Profits are determined by deducting the inputs from the outputs

Types of Farming (p.93)  Intensive Farms: –Inputs and outputs per hectare are high –Found in densely populated areas, where land values are high –Require large amounts of labour or equipment –High yields per hectare –Farms include fruit, dairy, vegetable, tobacco, flowers, poultry, …

2004's late harvest brought out co-operation in the farming industry. Nine huge John Deere harvesters line up for a photo on the Starland Hutterite Colony near Delia, Alberta

Types of Farming  Extensive Farms: –Inputs and outputs are relatively low –Located in areas with low population and low land values –Lower yields per hectare –Products are less perishable; they don’t have to be sold or processed right away –Farms include hardy vegetables, cattle, sheep, …

Types of Farming  Prairie Wheat Farms (SK, AB) –Average 420ha –Produce only wheat and grains, using combines & large tractors –Sell $ in crops, cost $ to start –Require day growing season, 400mm rain, dry fall harvest, fertile soil over level land

Types of Farms  Cattle Raising (AB, SK) –Average 640ha –Need little machinery and equipment –Income is $74 000, but cost $ to start –Require 200mm rain, rolling, grass-covered hills, valleys with water, soil suitable for hay and feed grains

Types of Farming  Dairy Farms (QC, ON) –Average 132ha –Income is $ , cost $ to start –Need barns, hay/grain machinery, milking & refrigeration equipment –Require 650mm rain, short, mild winters and warm summers

Types of Farming  Tender Fruit Farms (Okanagan Valley,BC and Niagara Fruit Belt, ON) –Average 29 ha –Income is $50 000, cost $ to start –Need large amounts of labour –Fruits are perishable –Require fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil and a long growing season Apple trees, Okanagan Valley Fruit farm, Niagara fruit belt

Types of Farming  Vegetable Farms ( Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto) –Also called Market gardening or truck farming; products are shipped fresh to markets by truck –Average 55ha –Income is $ ; cost $ to start –Lots of labour required –Many specialized machines –Requires a moist climate and level, fertile land with loam or peat soils and good drainage Fruit & vegetable farm near Toronto, ON… home of the worst hockey team ever.

Changes in Canadian Agriculture  Short-term Impacts –Climate: a tornado ripping up a cornfield –Market conditions: price of tomatoes drops after a screening of the latest 'Killer Tomatoes' movie

Changes in Canadian Agriculture  Long-Term Impact: changes in social attitudes –Red meat is bad for you because of mad cow disease, so chicken is a better choice –Drink more water (instead of other drinks like milk or juice) –Eggs are bad; they raise your cholesterol.  Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98

Changes in Canadian Agriculture  Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98  Read the 'Niagara fruit belt' case study (pages ) and respond to questions 25 & 26(p.101).